Updated 1:53 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2013

Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images

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From left to right: Vanessa Ferrari (sliver) of Italy, Simone Biles (gold) of USA and Larisa Andreea Iordache (bronze) of Romania pose with their medals after the Floor Exercise Final on Day Seven of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Belgium 2013 held at the Antwerp Sports Palace on Sunday in Antwerpen, Belgium. less

From left to right: Vanessa Ferrari (sliver) of Italy, Simone Biles (gold) of USA and Larisa Andreea Iordache (bronze) of Romania pose with their medals after the Floor Exercise Final on Day Seven of the ... more

Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images

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Gold medallist Simone Biles of the U.S. competes to win the floor exercise during the apparatus final on Sunday.

Gold medallist Simone Biles of the U.S. competes to win the floor exercise during the apparatus final on Sunday.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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Gold medallist Simone Biles competes to win the floor exercise during the apparatus final on Sunday.

Gold medallist Simone Biles competes to win the floor exercise during the apparatus final on Sunday.

Photo: Virginia Mayo, Associated Press

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Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the apparatus final on Sunday.

Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the apparatus final on Sunday.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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Gold medallist Simone Biles competes to win the floor exercise during the apparatus final on Sunday.

Gold medallist Simone Biles competes to win the floor exercise during the apparatus final on Sunday.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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Simone Biles, left, and McKayla Maroney show their medals on the podium after taking the double on the vault exercise during the apparatus final on Saturday.

Simone Biles, left, and McKayla Maroney show their medals on the podium after taking the double on the vault exercise during the apparatus final on Saturday.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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Simone Biles competes in the vault during the apparatus final on Saturday.

Simone Biles competes in the vault during the apparatus final on Saturday.

Photo: Virginia Mayo, Associated Press

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Simone Biles competes in the vault during the apparatus final on Saturday.

Simone Biles competes in the vault during the apparatus final on Saturday.

Photo: Virginia Mayo, Associated Press

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Simone Biles performs on the vault during the apparatus final on Saturday.

Simone Biles performs on the vault during the apparatus final on Saturday.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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Simone Biles competes in the uneven bars event of the apparatus final on Saturday.

Simone Biles competes in the uneven bars event of the apparatus final on Saturday.

Photo: MARTIN BUREAUMARTIN BUREAU/, Getty Images

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Simone Biles after receiving her gold medal.

Simone Biles after receiving her gold medal.

Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images

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Simone Biles stands with fellow medal-winners at the gymnastics World Championships.

Simone Biles stands with fellow medal-winners at the gymnastics World Championships.

Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images

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Simone Biles reacts after receiving her gold medal.

Simone Biles reacts after receiving her gold medal.

Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images

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Simone Biles stands with fellow medal-winners at the gymnastics World Championships.

Simone Biles stands with fellow medal-winners at the gymnastics World Championships.

Photo: Dirk Waem, Getty Images

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Simone Biles stands with fellow medal-winners at the gymnastics World Championships.

Simone Biles stands with fellow medal-winners at the gymnastics World Championships.

Photo: Martin Bureau, Getty Images

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Simone Biles reacts after winning the all-around gymnastics World Championship.

Simone Biles reacts after winning the all-around gymnastics World Championship.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the vault during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the vault during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Virginia Mayo, Associated Press

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United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the vault during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the vault during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Virginia Mayo, Associated Press

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United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the vault during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the vault during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Virginia Mayo, Associated Press

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United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Yves Logghe, Associated Press

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United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the floor exercise during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the floor exercise during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Virginia Mayo, Associated Press

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United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the floor exercise during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

United States gymnast Simone Biles competes on the floor exercise during an all-around final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Virginia Mayo, Associated Press

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Gymnast Simone Biles poses for a portrait after training at Bannon's Gymnastix on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, in Houston. Biles won the USA Gymnastics womenÕs all-around national championship last weekend.

Gymnast Simone Biles poses for a portrait after training at Bannon's Gymnastix on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, in Houston. Biles won the USA Gymnastics womenÕs all-around national championship last weekend.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles trains at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Simone Biles trains at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles, top, stretches with her teammates after training.

Simone Biles, top, stretches with her teammates after training.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles gets a kiss from her mother Nellie Biles as she trains at Bannon's Gymnastix on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013.

Simone Biles gets a kiss from her mother Nellie Biles as she trains at Bannon's Gymnastix on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Young gymnast watch as Simone Biles trains at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Young gymnast watch as Simone Biles trains at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles, left, laughts with her sister Adria while they train at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Simone Biles, left, laughts with her sister Adria while they train at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles trains at Bannon's Gymnastix on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013.

Simone Biles trains at Bannon's Gymnastix on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles trains at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Simone Biles trains at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles talks with her father Ron Biles during a training session.

Simone Biles talks with her father Ron Biles during a training session.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Chalk leaves footprints on the mats at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Chalk leaves footprints on the mats at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles chalks her hands before training on the uneven bars at BannonÕs Gymnastix.

Simone Biles chalks her hands before training on the uneven bars at BannonÕs Gymnastix.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles, right, laughts with her sister Adria during training at Bannon's Gymnastix.

Simone Biles, right, laughts with her sister Adria during training at Bannon's Gymnastix.

A sign celebrates her victory in as the USA Gymnastics womenÕs all-around national championship as Simone Biles leaves after training at Bannon's Gymnastix on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013.

A sign celebrates her victory in as the USA Gymnastics womenÕs all-around national championship as Simone Biles leaves after training at Bannon's Gymnastix on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Simone Biles, center, reacts during the medals ceremony at the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013. Biles won the U.S. women's gymnastics title, edging Kyla Ross, left, who came in second. Third-place finisher Brenna Dowell, right, looks on. less

Simone Biles, center, reacts during the medals ceremony at the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013. Biles won the U.S. women's gymnastics title, edging ... more

Photo: Elise Amendola, Associated Press

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Simone Biles competes on the vault during the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Simone Biles competes on the vault during the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Photo: Elise Amendola, Associated Press

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Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.

Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.

Photo: Elise Amendola, Associated Press

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Simone Biles reacts after finishing on the uneven bars during the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.

Simone Biles reacts after finishing on the uneven bars during the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.

Photo: Elise Amendola, Associated Press

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Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.

Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.

Photo: Elise Amendola, Associated Press

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Simone Biles, center, reacts during the medals ceremony at the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013. Biles won the gymnastics title, edging Kyla Ross, left, who came in second. Third-place finisher Brenna Dowell, right, smiles. less

Simone Biles, center, reacts during the medals ceremony at the U.S. women's national gymnastics championships in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013. Biles won the gymnastics title, edging Kyla Ross, left, ... more

CHICAGO (AP) — USA Gymnastics is asking Italian gymnastics officials for an explanation of the racially charged comments that were aimed at new world all-around champion Simone Biles.

Italy's Carlotta Ferlito apologized Tuesday on Twitter for comments she made at the world championships in Belgium. After fellow Italian Vanessa Ferrari and Ferlito finished fourth and fifth on balance beam — just behind Biles — Ferlito said with a laugh, "I told Vane that next time we'll have our skin black also so we can win, too."

Biles won the all-around title earlier in the week, the first black gymnast to become world champion. At last year's London Games, Gabby Douglas became the first black woman to win the Olympic all-around title.

On Tuesday, Ferlito tweeted, "I want to apologize with the Americans girls. I didn't want to sound rude or racist. I love Simone and I'm a huge fan of USA gymnastics."

She then added, "I've made a mistake, I'm not perfect ... I didn't think about what I was saying. I'm just a human. I'm so so sorry."

In trying to explain Ferlito's remarks, a federation spokesman may have further inflamed the issue. A post on Facebook by "Federazione Ginnastica d'Italia," which links to the federation's page on the social networking site, attributes different athletes' abilities to race.

"USA Gymnastics is disappointed by the recent comments made by Carlotta Ferlito and apparently by the Italian Gymnastics Federation," Penny said in a statement. "Gymnastics is a global and inclusive sport with talented athletes, and there is no place for racial insensitivity. We are contacting the Italian federation for clarification on its comments." "